David Mason is a Submarine Project Manager for Oceaneering’s Marine Services Division (MSD) in Chesapeake, Virginia.
Before joining Oceaneering, he served 10 years in the U.S. Navy, four of which he spent in the reserves. For a decade, David developed skills and mastered new challenges in several roles, such as Engineman and Petty Officer Second Class. He remembers his time in the service fondly.
“If given the opportunity, I would do it (serve) all over again,” he said. “Being able to run another mission or drive another fast boat – those were just some of the highlights of my time in service. The camaraderie always made me feel like I had a second family. I am still great friends with many of the people I served with.”
David enlisted in the Navy in 2004 after he sustained a second knee injury while playing football in high school.
“I knew that college wasn’t an option for me,” he said. “I knew I wanted to make something of myself besides trouble. Enlisting was the best option.”
At Oceaneering, David found the values instilled within him during his many years of service matched with Oceaneering’s own Core Values, particularly “Do Things Right.”
”That is something that every person should always strive for, and in the Navy, this was important because each one of our roles was essential to the overall mission,” he said. “If I did not or could not safely do my job, I would be risking the lives of those around me.”
David found other Oceaneering Core Values that aligned with those he experienced in the Navy.
“The ability for sailors to work as a team allowed for us to grow together, which also helped us own each challenge we faced and outperform, not only our expectations but those of leadership as well.”
He continued, “There is never just one way to solve an issue or reach a goal. My time in the Navy showed me that, and each day I can apply this to any situation.”
David said that the skills and training he received in the Navy made the transition to a civilian position with Oceaneering an easy journey.
“Being a project manager is not just about paperwork and budgets,” he said.
“I need to know what each of my craftsmen is doing; what materials they need; how much time it should take to complete a project; and more. This would not be possible if I did not do these things in my earlier years when I was stationed on ships as a sailor.”
One fulfilling aspect of his career at Oceaneering is that David feels as though he is still serving his country, just as he did during his Navy career.
“I am part of a team that is repairing and fixing ships so that they may remain combat-ready, maintain freedom of the seas, and continue to deter aggression alongside the other military branches.”
When asked what advice he would give to transitioning veterans, David said, ”Many veterans are vying for a position in the civilian workforce, so be prepared, from medical records to resumes, have multiple copies of everything.”
“Becoming a civilian is not as easy as it may seem, but the better prepared and more realistic you are, the better off you will be. If this piece of the puzzle (duplicate copies of paperwork) is taken care of, then you can focus on finding a great job with a company that checks off many of the boxes on your list.”
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